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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University baseball team played its fifth game in six days on Wednesday night when they hosted the Claflin Panthers and won a 12-8 non-conference game at Lake Olmstead Stadium

Augusta (6-10) and Claflin (2-13) had five lead changes in the game, but the Jags prevailed in the final three innings and outhit the Panthers 12-8.

Junior Harrison Moore was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while juniors Devin Bilardello, Bakari Gayle, and freshman Trent Maddox all had two hits each for Augusta.

The Jaguars host the Columbus State Cougars for their first Peach Belt Conference home series of the season March 1-3 at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The series begins Friday, March 1 with a 6:00 p.m. start and continues Saturday (2:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.).

Gayle blasted a solo home run in the first inning to give AU a quick lead and the team added two in the next inning. Junior Patrick Watson and freshman Jay Pendley each reached base in the second inning and sophomore Jose Nogueras delivered a bases-clearing double down the left-field line.

AU picked up another in the third, but the Panthers plated four in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. The Jaguars jumped on Claflin for three runs in the bottom half of the inning, until CU scored one in the sixth and three in the seventh to take a lead. AU put a pair in the seventh and three in the eighth to win 12-8.

Senior David Hagelston made his first start of his senior season for the Jaguars and tossed three innings to hold the Panthers scoreless and hitless with two strikeouts. Senior Jordan Kelly gave up four hits for four earned runs in an inning of work, before senior Aron Chick logged two innings of work to surrender two hits for one run.

Senior Casey Lenoch (1-0) got the win in two innings pitched where he held the Panthers hitless and scoreless.

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